Negotiations Continue Between Unions And Dept of Labour To Avert Rail Strike

A spokesperson for the US Department of Labour has said that railroads and unions are, "negotiating in good faith and have committed to staying at the [negotiating] table today."

• CNN: "The meeting comes with just days remaining until a federally mandated cooling off period expires and the strike could begin. It serves as a major test for President Joe Biden and his White House, which has positioned itself as one of the most pro-labor administrations in decades but also wants to avoid any potential shocks to the economy with the midterm elections just months away."
• If the Biden administration cannot reach an agreement to avoid strike action then 60,000 union workers in freight rail are set to go on strike on Friday with serious consequences for already strained supply chains.
• Although top Democrats and Republicans have agreed that Congress should act to prevent a strike if negotiations fail, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at her presser earlier this afternoon she would rather see a negotiated settlement than action from Congress.
• The American Petroleum Institute this week warned of “catastrophic” disruptions to the rail network if no settlement was reached.